Recommendation Needed on Lemond Poprad

[bigboyblue]

I am looking at an orange 57 CM Poprad on ebay. (I am not sure how to add a link to the listing.) I will be using it as a commuter and to ride gravel roads, so canti's should be fine. It appears to have a steel fork. I understand that there have been some problems with the various forks on the Poprad and I am wondering which fork is recommended. I would like to buy the Poprad that is for sale here, but it is a little large for me. Looks like it has a nice carbon fork. I would like to run 32's +/-, so I need clearance for those. There is also a NOS 57 CM disk frame on ebay that seems overpriced, but could be an option if the seller would come down. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

I don't post often so I have to add:

[PeregrineA1]

I have a Poprad disc. Drivetrain is mixed mountain and road parts, had to switch to a road FD to clear the rear tire, otherwise it was a limit of 32.

I have the CF fork that is alleged to be a Wound-Up. Love it.

[staggerwing]

Not a Poprad, but I have an older, silver, Gunnar Crosshairs, in 56cm, that you can have for short money. Has a full Waterford lugged crown steel fork too. This one is for cantis or mini-Vs. I can 100% guarantee that 32s will fit fine.

I'm a bit east of you, in Cincinnati. If interested, perhaps we can work out a 'no ship' option.

[Ken Robb]

I think LeMonds are measured C-T as are Gunnars so take that into consideration when buying a bike long-distance.

[mhespenheide]

I fit 35's on my Poprad, with room for a little more than that.

[DfCas]

Lemonds were measured C-C. I had an 06 ornge canti and the fork was aluminum with a steel steerer. Note that the fork on mine was 414 Axle to crown so it may not be easy to get a substitute fork.

[redir]

I have the last year production model Poprad in OX platinum steel with a carbon fork. It's been a fantastic bike and I love it but have been thinking about going disk for cross. At the time it came out I was doing UCI races and disk was not aloud so I didn't get the disk version, wish I did. My wife has a slightly older one with an Aluminum fork. Both bikes take a 33 tire no problem.

Those orange ones are probably from about 2000-2003 or something like that. The fork is probably one inch so switching to carbon will not give you many options. I'd jsut stick to the steel fork, it's probably a good one.

In general buying a bike that is too large is not as good an idea as buying one that is too small. You can kit the small one out bigger but not the other way round.

[GregL]

I have a 2004 Poprad. It uses a 1 1/8" steerer. I replaced the original (Kinesis?) aluminum unicrown fork with a Bontrager Satellite cross fork (carbon legs, aluminum steerer). It has worked very well. I've had no fork chatter under braking even when using a cantilever cable stop mounted on the headset.

Greg

[dbnm]

I have an 06 Orange Poprad. The fork is steel and heavy as hell. I raced cross with mine and it was great (I was not).

I plan to switch it to a gravel bike later this summer.

All in all, it's made in America and is a terrific bike and value.

[rwsaunders]

Here are the geo charts from both the canti and the disc versions. I have a 59cm canti version with a Bontrager CF fork and it's an awesome bike. Pretty much a do all bike. The Poprads run a little long with a shorter head tube so you might need to flip your stem or use a taller stack stem such as a VO if you have some steerer tube left, depending on the fit. YMMV

CANTI http://www.vintage-trek.com/Trek-Fis...nualLemond.pdf

DISC http://www.vintage-trek.com/Trek-Fis...2007lemond.pdf

[slowpoke]

(Plug: if you're looking for a 55cm.. I'm selling Volant's former Poprad. Original listing: https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=127869)

[marsh]

My 2001 w/steel fork has been doing just fine. No issues at all during 20 mi commute a few days a week. Nashbar does make a 1" carbon cross fork if you are looking to upgrade, but I doubt you would need to.

[ColonelJLloyd]

Originally Posted by marsh

Nashbar does make a 1" carbon cross fork if you are looking to upgrade, but I doubt you would need to.

I have a lightly used 1" one sitting in a box ready to ship if you're interested, OP. It's this one.

[BobC]

Poprad was the best bike Lemond made.

I still have mine (with the original steel fork) & it is my commuter/get-around bike.

If one fits & is a good deal -- get it.

[bigboyblue]

Ended up buying SlowPoke's 55 CM disk version with wound-up fork. Much better to buy on the Paceline than fleebay. Thanks to everyone for their comments.